Review

The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever

Unfortunately Hold Steady have become a one-trick pony. But what a trick

The usual reason given when
someone leaves a band is "musical differences". In the case of
Franz Nicolay, the keyboard player who left the Hold Steady before this
album was made, it may have been a case of "lack of musical differences".
Nicolay had clearly grown frustrated with the sameness of a band who, he
said, have "one idea".

He's right: the Hold Steady are a one-trick pony. But what a trick. Nobody
does literate classic rock better, and on The Weekenders (shades of
Springsteen) and The Sweet Part of the City (echoes of Bob Seger), they're
at their best.

Yet Heaven Is Whenever only rarely hits the heights of 2008's Stay Positive,
and there are clear signs that the law of diminishing returns is starting to
kick in. Fans will be happy with this set of songs, but the band need to
come up with a second idea soon.